The Cyber Security Training Success Story of Marcus Mingo

In the Fall of 2016, Marcus was on a plane flying back from Germany and trying to get all his ducks in a row to finish his cyber security training. Marcus was serving in the military, where he was doing network analysis. His goal was to finish his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and then use his GI Bill® to start on his Master’s degree. But he knew he wanted to earn a few key certifications first, ones he’d seen on all the job postings he was interested in.

Read on to learn about the IT training success story of Marcus Mingo.

Looking for IT Training & Certification

Winter 2016

“I chose LeaderQuest because the personalities were a lot more relatable. For me, personality is a big thing. Some people come off the wrong way when it comes to computers and IT. In addition, I liked your offer to resit classes that I have already taken. And having everything was paid for and taken care of in one easy package.”

Of course, Marcus had been talking to a few different training providers and evaluating them to find the best fit.

Our Career Training Consultant, Chris Young, had been in contact with him about LeaderQuest’s record of helping vets earn certifications, and our expertise when it comes to making funding simple and easy. He gave LeaderQuest a call, and we got him signed up for classes starting in December.

He gave LeaderQuest a call, and we got him signed up for classes starting in December.

Cyber Security Training Using GI Bill® Funding

Dec 2016 – March 2017

“The environment at LeaderQuest is good, the instructors are excellent. I got into a lot of classes at the last minute because I was changing schedules, but it worked out really well. I got three certifications in less than four months!”

Marcus started training with LeaderQuest in December and was able to complete his CompTIA Security+, EC-Council CEH, and EC-Council CND by March of 2017. That’s a lot of testing! Marcus told us that he enjoyed his time at LeaderQuest, and we certainly enjoyed having him.

Are you interested in getting cyber security certifications? The three that Marcus chose are excellent and can open up a lot of doors when it comes to job hunting. CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level certification that validates foundational security skills and can prepare you for the next step in your education. EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is ideal for administrators who want to prepare themselves for the various kinds of attacks they might see in the real world, such as Viruses and Worms, Sniffers, Social Engineering, Denial of Service, Session Hijacking, and more. EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) arms those who pass it with the skills to protect against network attacks, detect them in real time, and respond effectively. All of the above certifications are in great demand, with more than one million job openings unfilled worldwide according to Cisco.

Employment and a Better Offer

April 2017

“Since I’ve been certified, I’ve gotten a job offer for every IT position I’ve applied for.”

Kimberly Archer, part of our career services team, was able to secure three interviews for Marcus. Our Employment Relations Managers (EDMs) have only one mission: to help our graduates get the job they really want! Out of these interviews, he accepted a position with HP. We couldn’t have been more excited for him!

However, Marcus soon got a better offer from Cyberspace Solutions. He’s working for them now, doing network defense, and making about $20,000 more annually than he was before he started training! In fact, he told us that his certifications have been a huge edge for him when it comes to job hunting.

Current Update

July 2017

“I just wanted to thank you for all the work you’ve put in on my behalf. I am in the process of accepting a new position with Booz Allen this week with another 20K pay bump. They said they received some information from you in addition to the application I submitted. Thanks!!!” – Marcus Mingo

Are you interested in cyber security training?

Don’t wait! We can help you start the process today. Our Career Training Consultants are experts when it comes to helping figure out what certifications you need to get where you’re going, and how to pay for them. With so many job openings in cyber security and IT, there’s never been a better time to invest in your education. Contact us today to get started on your future!